The adult male American wigeon has a white forehead, a gray head, a green band from the eye down the back of the neck, a grayish back, a rusty brown breast and sides, and in flight a large white patch on the forward edge of the wing. The rear end is black, preceded by white.

The male American wigeon can be distinguished from the male green-winged teal (which also has a green stripe running from the eye down the back of the neck) by the wigeon's white forehead and crown. Some people call the American wigeon the “baldpate” (baldhead), for the male’s white cap and forehead.

The American wigeon is a popular duck for hunting. Missouri has several wetland areas managed for public waterfowl hunting. Our state and federal hunting regulations, National Wildlife Refuge System, and programs like the federal duck stamp help ensure healthy waterfowl populations.

Blue-winged teal are dabblers, often seen in shallows sifting water and mud for goodies, rarely diving but able to take flight by jumping directly from the water into the air. Males have a distinctive white crescent on their dark gray heads.

The female blue-winged teal can be tricky to distinguish from the female green-winged teal. The blue wing patches and gray-brown speculum are usually only seen in flight. However, as they float on water, the dark, heavily spotted undertail coverts are usually visible.

Regs and Areas

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MDC protects and manages Missouri's fish, forest, and wildlife resources. We also facilitate your participation in resource-management activities, and we provide opportunities for you to use, enjoy and learn about nature. Read more about our mission.